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No worries over RB8 legality - Horner

Christian Horner: "Exhausts are still an immature area in terms of development" © Getty Images

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he has no concerns about rival teams questioning the legality of the RB8 this season.

A variety of accusations have been levelled at Horner's team in recent years - from running flexible aerodynamics to adjustable ride heights - but the FIA has never found anything illegal on the Red Bulls. Talking to the ESPNF1 podcast, Horner said he is not worried about more of the same this year.

"I'd be disappointed, on previous experience, if they didn't [protest]," he joked. "Obviously we feel the car is fully compliant with the regulations when we turn up in Australia and we won't spend too much time worrying about that."

However, the use of exhaust gases to influence aerodynamics still appears to be a grey area, with the FIA trying to limit the practice and the teams attempting to gain every possible advantage. Horner said the teams would continue to work with the exhausts as long as there is an advantaged to be gained.

"It's the nature of Formula One that when a window of opportunity unveils itself the teams will put a lot of energy into that area," he said. "Exhausts are still an immature area in terms of development and therefore there's a lot of focus gone into them with the regulations this year."

Red Bull debuted an updated exhaust system at the final two days of testing but had limited mileage due to a gearbox problem. Nevertheless, Horner is confident the updated package will come good when it runs in Australia.

"We had an annoying gearbox issue on the final day of the test with Sebastian [Vettel], but we got some very good mileage the day before with Mark [Webber] and we're content with what we achieved. So yes, we are now looking forward to Australia."

He admitted Red Bull had been hoping to keep some of its secrets from its rivals by introducing the update so late in testing.

"You don't want to go too soon, but then you want to get some mileage to verify it. It always becomes a balance between an R&D exercise and a practical exercise. I think hopefully we got the balance about right this year."

A full interview with Christian Horner on the new Red Bull RB8, its drivers and a competition to join the team as an intern will be published on Friday. Full details of the internship can be found here

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